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McLean’s Special Olympics basketball team opened March Madness with a tightly contested FanFest game on Friday, March 13, bringing together current students and alumni for an event centered on inclusion.

Held during seventh period, the annual game pitted teams wearing McLean’s silver and red school colors against each other. The score remained close for most of the matchup.

“Today’s game was great,” silver-team player Ben Shue said. “I had the ball and I got it in the hoop on the first try.”

FanFest gives athletes with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to compete before the broader student body and receive the same recognition as other players.

“FanFest is an opportunity for our group of kids to play in front of the general population,” head coach Mark Thompson said. “It allows them to do what all the other kids get to do.”

Thompson said the event reflects a community that values diversity and believes no one is above anyone else.

Coaches and staff worked behind the scenes to create an upbeat, supportive atmosphere. Although players were encouraged to hustle and perform their best, Thompson said the event’s main goal was simple: have fun.

Organizers also made sure every student had an opportunity to take a shot and score—a contrast with conventional games, where some players may never enter the action.

“The most memorable moment is having students that have never actually played before actually score a bucket,” Thompson said. “Watching that is amazing.”

The silver team ultimately secured a 35-30 victory, but the crowd’s support mattered more to the players than the final score.

“I will remember all the people I saw,” Shue said. “They were all cheering for me and my team. I will definitely play again next year.”